Startup Drives 60 GHz to Small Cells

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Startup Peraso Technologies Inc. is taking 60 GHz to infrastructure networks with its first product, a module targeting small cell base stations, now sampling.

The device supports the IEEE 802.11ad standard that emerged from the WiGig MAC and PHY specifications. Many of the chip designers behind those efforts are targeting consumer client systems such as PCs and TVs. Peraso sees a higher margin opportunity in back-end networks for the module, which sell for $60 in 10,000-unit quantities.

The PRS212x modules use Peraso's PRS1021 60 GHz transceiver, which integrates more than 15 discretes. In addition to small cell base stations, the module targets a variety of business nets including point-to-point links for campus, city and mass transit networks.

Carriers are just starting to deploy small cell base stations, mainly to expand capacity in dense urban areas. "When considering technology alternatives for backhaul, 60 GHz wireless is expected to secure the largest share and fastest growth rates in these small cells," said Earl J. Lum, president of EJL Wireless Research LLC, speaking in a Peraso press release.

"The other primary supplier [for 60 GHz back-end networks] is currently Hittite Microwave, and Infineon is expected to release silicon imminently," said Ron Glibbery, founder and chief executive of Peraso in an email exchange.

"We are the only silicon supplier that's actually providing a waveguide module, which makes it very convenient for our customers to interface to our silicon," said Glibbery. "Our waveguide has very low insertion loss, and spans the entire WiGig spectrum."

The waveguide interface links directly to a high gain antenna using the WR15 standard. "Hittite simply provides the silicon, so they leave it up to the customer to figure out to implement an efficient interface," said Glibbery.

The module consumes about 330 milliwatts. It targets a "sweet spot" of a Gbit/second at 300 meters.

The key is the development of small cell base stations, which is upt o carriers. That and the primary suppliers like Infineon and the quality of the silicon they release in the coming months. It should be interesting to watch this space develop.